May
Published 2:23 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
Three Forks plan finally approved
After five years of planning and controversy, the Three Forks
Natural Area Master Plan was finally approved, along with a
Metropolitan King County Council amendment that shaves $4 million off the project’s cost.
The 7-6 County Council vote resulted in limiting the number
of projects in the 418-acre park, located between North Bend and
Snoqualmie. The original plan had a price tag of $5 million, which Valley
residents thought was too high a price to spend for a “natural” area.
Councilman David Irons’s plan will cost $978,684 and includes
two parking lots, one year-round restroom, trail improvements,
interpretation signs and revegetation of highly
damaged areas.
The land was purchased after residents voted for an Open Space
and Parks bond in 1989.
Bridge to bring people to Meadowbrook Farm
Two bridges were constructed on Meadowbrook Farm that will allow
for exploration of the land, which was previously difficult to access
because of wetlands and drainage ditches.
The bridges were started on Earth Day, April 22. They are located
on Meadowbrook land near State Route 202, east of Snoqualmie
Middle School, and were built by volunteers and organizations, including
the Weyerhaeuser Co. Foundation that sponsored the project through
the Puget Sound Restoration Fund.
Meadowbrook Farm is a 450-acre parcel that sits just east of Mount
Si High School and was acquired in 1996 by the cities of North Bend
and Snoqualmie with King County conservation funds. The property has
historical significance as it was once central to Native American activities and
is ecologically significant because of its open space that provides habitat
for wildlife.
North Bend growth still on hold
North Bend City Council members voted to extend the city’s
building moratorium for another six months, keeping development on hold until
a water plan can be implemented.
Limited construction has been allowed to continue since the
moratorium began in April of 1999, mainly to honor permits granted before
the decision.
The moratorium is a result of the city having a lack of water rights
for future — and even current — development. Officials found the city
had been using more than its share of water from an aquifer at the base
of Mount Si for at least two years because the wrong figures were being used
to calculate the amount of water needed.
Because of a “political logjam” and pared-down funding, the
state’s Department of Ecology, which issues additional water rights, cannot get
to North Bend’s application for at least a decade.
Nestle donates Carnation land to county
Nestle USA donated approximately 60 acres of land, which is
a prime ecological sanctuary, to King County.
The county had wanted to buy the land to preserve one of the few
salmon spawning areas left in the Valley, but Nestle donated it instead.
“To me that typifies everything all the recent Earth Day activities
symbolized — a real commitment to making the communities we live and
work in a better place,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “It is with
our heartfelt thanks that we salute Nestle for being a good corporate neighbor.”
The land was once part of Carnation Farms, and Nestle USA
has owned the property since 1985.
Snoqualmie Ridge road extension denied
In an emotionally charged workshop, the Snoqualmie City
Council denied an application to extend Southeast Douglas Street on
Snoqualmie Ridge.
The 50-foot extension would connect Snoqualmie Parkway to a
proposed subdivision called Cascade View, located east of the Ridge’s
business park.
Snoqualmie 55 Associates, a group of developers that owns the land in
the proposed subdivision, had requested the workshop with the city to
speed up the process of building. The developers wanted the road extended so
that future residents of their development would have easier access
to Snoqualmie Parkway and Interstate 90, but neighbors of the land
protested and said the access would bring too many vehicles to their quiet area.
The City Council decided more study was needed before
permission could be granted to extend the road.
Eastside Fire & Rescue in turmoil
Many events took place the first two weeks of May that made the
future uncertain for Eastside Fire & Rescue (EFR), the organization that
provides fire services for much of the Valley.
EFR Fire Chief James Rankin abruptly resigned May 5. He had
held the position since January of 1999, when the organization had
been started, and was Issaquah’s chief since 1992.
The cities of North Bend and Issaquah and Fire Protection
Districts 10 and 38, which serve unincorporated county areas, consolidated in 1999
to form EFR and pool resources to provide better service.
A letter sent by Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger to EFR board
members stating the city’s intent to break from EFR and once again establish
their own fire department may have been behind Rankin’s resignation,
some officials believe.
Man killed in trench
A father was killed and his son was left seriously injured May 7 when
a 12-foot trench on the site of the future The Members Club at Alderra
golf course collapsed and buried the workers.
Firefighters dug the men out of the ditch but were unable to revive
53-year-old Jose F. Galdamez, who had jumped in the trench to rescue his
son, Michael Galdamez. It took firefighters four hours to free the younger
man, who was then treated for a fractured left leg, fluid loss and respiratory
problems.
